Lottery winner first thought jackpot 'couldn't be real'

Robert Cockrell's retirement just got a lot sweeter. The Dana resident recently claimed the largest Mega Millions prize in Henderson County history, N.C. Education Lottery officials said Wednesday.

By Leigh KelleyTimes-News Staff Writer

Robert Cockrell's retirement just got a lot sweeter.The Dana resident recently claimed the largest Mega Millions prize in Henderson County history, N.C. Education Lottery officials said Wednesday.Cockrell, who retired in 2005 from a career in sales, won the $1 million prize in the Jan. 29 drawing. The winning ticket, a $2 Megaplier he purchased at the Dana Food Center, contained a series of family birthdates. He matched all five white balls, although he did not match the yellow Mega Ball.Cockrell beat odds of 1 in 3.9 million, lottery officials said. He learned he had a winning ticket as he sat at home watching the drawing on television. Cockrell said he remembered exactly what went through his mind when he realized he had won.“I went, ‘D---, we won,'” he said, laughing. “My wife immediately tried to figure out how I had rigged this to make it look like we won to try and pull a gag on her, or trick her.”Then came what he referred to as an “Oh crap” moment as he tried to figure out how much money the winning ticket was worth.“I thought at first that we had won $250,000, but then we found out it was $1 million when we checked the website,” Cockrell said. “I know we watched the drawing three more times after that, thinking it couldn't be real. It's very exciting.”Dana Food Center owner Bobby Morris said he was thrilled for the Cockrells, where the couple are regular customers as well as good friends. “I'm very happy that he won,” he said. “I thought it was really neat that someone I knew personally won it, but I am glad that someone in Henderson County won it. They are super nice people. This couldn't have happened to nicer people, really.”Morris added that his business has had a $10,000 winner in the past, but nothing like Cockrell's jackpot. Dana Food Center will receive $10,000 for selling the winning ticket as part of a “retailer incentive,” said Ryan Kennemur, N.C. Education Lottery public information officer.After taxes, Cockrell's winnings actually total $680,000, according to lottery officials. Cockrell said the money “couldn't have come at a better time,” adding that he will use it to pay off the mortgage on his home and help his son, who lives in another state. Cockrell said he also plans to use some of the money to finish contributing to his grandchildren's college funds and “maybe take a vacation” — but his family comes first.“Our intent all along, if we won anything significant, was that we would help the people we care about,” he said.Winners have 180 days from the day of the drawing to claim their prize. The Cockrells traveled to Raleigh Monday to claim their winnings.Henderson County has had its share of lottery winners. Two people each won $200,000 playing Powerball, in 2007 and 2010, and nine Carolina Cash Five winners have claimed prizes ranging from $25,000 up to $376,000, Kennemur said. There have been 58 winners in the county who played scratch-off tickets and scored financial gains of $5,000 to $1 million.When asked if there is a particular strategy that is best for picking winning numbers, Kennemur quickly dismissed the idea. “Luck doesn't care,” he laughed.Cockrell said that in the past, he had always used “quick picks,” where the computer chooses the numbers, but he changed that strategy a few months ago. He read an article written by a man who advised lottery players to pick a set of numbers and stick with them in order to better the odds in their favor.“Statistically, they will come up,” Cockrell said, adding that he intends to continue playing the lottery. “It may not be in your lifetime, but they will come up.” Reach Kelley at 828-694-7871 or leigh.kelley@blueridgenow.com.